Benchmark Drilldown · Updated 2026-05-04
ISED (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada)
Lead authority for AI policy
- Role
- Lead authority for AI policy
- Region
- Canada
- Type
- Key body
Detail
ISED (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada) is Canada's federal department for innovation, including AI. AI-related functions: (1) authorship of Pan-Canadian AI Strategy 1.0 (2017) and 2.0 (2022); (2) coordination of CAISI; (3) administration of AI-specific funding lines under Budget 2024; (4) interface with provinces (Quebec / Ontario / Alberta for the three institutes). Assessment: ISED is more like Singapore's MTI + EDB combined — economic development plus innovation. Its AI-specific staffing is small, with most operational work delegated to CIFAR (program operator) and the three institutes. This thin federal layer matches Canada's federalism but limits central coordination compared to Singapore's SNDGO model.
References
Continue exploring this region
Region overview
Canada Core Strategy
Canada's core AI strategy is Pan-Canadian AI Strategy, with the public year marked as 2017/2024.
Region overview
Canada Investment Scale
Canada's AI investment signal is: CAD $2.4B (2024 budget).
Region overview
Canada Governance Model
Canada's AI governance model can be summarised as: Voluntary code of conduct, AIDA bill shelved.
Region overview
Canada Core Strength
Canada's comparative strength versus Singapore is: Birthplace of deep learning; Mila/Vector/Amii.
Core strategy
Pan-Canadian AI Strategy
World's first national-level AI strategy; funded the three major institutes
Core strategy
Pan-Canadian AI Strategy 2.0
CAD $2.4 billion renewal, adding compute and commercialisation
Data note
Curated benchmark drilldown profile, last updated 2026-05-04.